Multiple function animal bed

ABSTRACT

An animal furniture bed having one side open to allow for storing of objects in an area of the bed below the sleeping surface. The bottom of that open side has a lip element that extends the complete length of that side to prevent objects from rolling out of the furniture bed. Lips can also extend upward from each side to create an area in which to place a sleeping pad for an animal. The pad serves as the animal bed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.11/121,797 filed on May 4, 2005, which is herein incorporated byreference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an animal bed and in particular to a multiplefunction animal bed, which also serves as a storage location forobjects, related to the animal, as a bench for humans and as an animalstep for getting into a human bed.

2. Background of the Invention

There have been many types of animal beds. These beds come in variousdesigns. Some of the designs include beds shaped as different types ofanimals. Many beds in the form of animal designs are made of a cushionmaterial to facilitate animal comfort.

One animal bed as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,065 describes ananimal bed that includes an annular bed frame defining an interiorchamber. A perforated top wall is supported at its periphery by the bedframe to receive and support the animal above the chamber. Theperforated top wall is composed of a non-woven fabric material toprovide a hammock like suspension for the animal and to permit smallinsects to fall through the top wall. The chamber is dimensioned toprovide a space below the top wall sufficient to inhibit the insectsfrom traveling upwardly through the top wall. An insect exterminatingcomposition contained within the chamber receives the falling insectsand destroys them.

U.S. Pat. d 288,970 describes a combined animal bed and housing unit.This design has a bed mat resting on a storage unit. The bed also has acanopy covering the mat. The animal would rest on the mat and would becovered by the canopy.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a multiplepurpose animal bed.

It is a second objective of the present invention to provide an animalbed with a storage area below the location where the animal rests.

It is a third objective of the present invention to provide a multiplepurpose animal bed that can be used as a rest bench for humans.

It is a fourth objective of the present invention to provide a multiplepurpose animal bed that can be used as a step for animals to jump to ahigher human bed.

The present invention comprises a furniture bed having a shape that canbe for example a square or rectangular shape design with four sides, atop surface and an optional bottom surface. One of the sides is open toallow for storing objects in the present invention. Doors can beincluded on the furniture bed as an option. The bottom of that open sidehas a lip element that extends the complete length of that side toprevent objects from rolling out of the furniture bed. Lips can alsoextend upward from each side to create an area in which to place asleeping pad for an animal. The pad serves as the animal bed. Thematerial for the animal bed element can be of any conventional materialthat is used in animal beds. The remaining walls of the furniture bedmay be of any suitable composition and configuration suitable for use inthe bed. In some instances, the multiple function animal bed may bepositioned adjacent a human bed enabling humans to use the bed as a restbench or as a step to enable animals to get into the human bed.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicaladvantages of the present invention in order that the detaileddescription of the invention that follows may be better understood.Additional features and advantages of the invention will be describedhereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Itshould be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conceptionand the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as abasis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out thesame purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized bythose skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do notdepart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of theinvention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of the multiple function animalfurniture bed;

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the multiple function animal furniturebed;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the multiple function animal furniturebed adjacent a human bed;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the multiple function animal furniturebed adjacent a human bed; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, shown is the front view of the multiple functionanimal furniture bed 10. The multiple function animal furniture bed 10may have a generally rectangular shape, alternatively the multiplefunction animal furniture bed 10 may have any other shape suitable for adesired use. Sides 11 and 12 form the two ends of the multiple functionanimal furniture bed 10. Side 13 is the front and open side of themultiple function animal furniture bed 10. The back side, not shown, isa side similar to sides 11 and 12. The back side may also have similardimensions as the front side 13. In alternative embodiments, thebackside has different dimensions than the front side 13. The multiplefunction animal furniture bed 10 has a top side 14 as shown in FIGS. 1and 2. The top side 14 supports the mat material 15 on which the animalmay lay. This mat material 15 may be of any composition suitable for usewith the multiple function animal furniture bed 10. For instance, themat material 15 may be a cushion, a padded material, and the like. Insome embodiments, the top side 14 may be moveable (e.g., the top side 14may be lifted up). As shown, the top side 14 may have tapered corners14′. The multiple function animal furniture bed 10 may have an optionalbottom side or floor (not illustrated).

Multiple function animal furniture bed 10 may be composed of anymaterial suitable for the uses of multiple function animal furniture bed10. For instance, multiple function animal furniture bed 10 may becomposed of wood, mesh, wire, plastic, metal, and the like. In anembodiment, multiple function animal furniture 10 includes sides (e.g.,sides 11, 12, 13, 14, and back side) composed of a plurality ofopenings. The openings may be of any desired shape and configuration.Such sides composed of a plurality of openings may comprise wire, mesh,netting, weaving, and the like, preferably wire or mesh, and morepreferably wire or wire-like material. Moreover, such sides may becomposed of any porous material suitable for use as a side in an animalcage (e.g., porous metal or plastic siding). In an embodiment, suchsides are composed of a plastic, wood, or metal wire or wire-likematerial. One or more sides of multiple function animal furniture bed 10may be composed of such materials. In an embodiment (not illustrated),an outer covering may be disposed on the outside and/or inside surfaceof one or more sides of multiple function animal furniture bed 10,preferably an outer covering is disposed on the outside of one or moresides of multiple function animal furniture bed 10. In some embodiments,an outer covering is disposed on the outside of sides 11, 12. The outercovering may cover any desired portion of a side. The outer covering maycomprise any suitable covering for use with animals. For instance, theouter covering may be composed of natural or synthetic woods, veneers,vinyl, wicker, plastic, ceramic, and the like. In alternativeembodiments, at least one of the sides comprises a substantially solidmaterial.

A lip element 16 is positioned at the bottom of the open front side 13.This lip 16 extends the length of the front side 13. In alternativeembodiments, lip 16 extends a portion of the length of front side 13.Without being limited by theory, lip 16 may prevent objects from rollingout of the storage area of the multiple function animal furniture bed10. For instance, many objects and toys for animals have rounded shapesand have a tendency to roll. This lip 16 may serve as a stop to preventthe objects from rolling out of the storage area (e.g., interior ofmultiple function animal furniture bed 10). In addition, sides 11 and 12may have lips 17 and 18 that extend upward from these sides beyond thetop side of the bed. Similar extensions may also extend from the frontside 13 and back side in the same manner as the extensions 17 and 18.Without being limited by theory, these extensions create an area inwhich to place the mat material 15. For instance, some mats have thetendency to slide in response to the weight of an animal. Theseextensions may serve to help hold the mat in place. In alternativeembodiments (not illustrated), multiple function animal furniture bed 10may comprise no such lips or may comprise only a portion of such lips.

FIG. 3 shows the multiple function animal furniture bed 10 positionedadjacent a human bed 20. Positioning the multiple function animalfurniture bed 10 at the foot 40 of the human bed 20 may provide a stepfor an animal/pet to get into human bed 20. For instance, many peoplehave pets that sleep in the bedroom. In addition, this multiple functionanimal furniture bed 10 has the strength to serve as a bench for humansto use as well.

FIG. 4 gives a side view of the multiple function animal furniture bed10. Shown is a human bed 20 with a mattress 22. By the animal climbingonto the top side 14 and mat material 15 of the multiple function animalfurniture bed 10, the animal may have sufficient elevation to move intothe human bed 20.

The multiple function animal furniture bed 10 may have variousdimensions. In addition, the lip extensions (e.g., 16, 17, 18) may alsohave various dimensions. For example, the lip extension 16 may not havethe same dimensions as lip extensions 17 and 18. In a preferredembodiment, all lip extensions may be two to three inches in height.

FIG. 5 is a top view of an alternate embodiment in which only the side23 adjacent the human bed 20 has a substantially straight design. Theother portion of the bed may have a curved or convex shape as shown. Theother previously described features would be the same as in the otherembodiments (e.g., these features include an opening in the front side13 and a lip extension 16 at the bottom).

In addition to the lip extensions 17 and 18 on the top side 14, otherattaching means may be used to secure the mat material 15 to the top ofthe multiple function animal furniture bed 10. Without limitation, thesemeans may include straps attached to the multiple function animalfurniture bed 10 that may restrain the mat material 15. Another means isan attaching or adhesive material such as VELCRO, which is commerciallyavailable from Velcro Industries B.V. Ltd. Liability Co. This materialmay be attached to a skirt that may be attached to the mat material 15.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described indetail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions andalterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. An animal furniture bed, comprising: a top side; a front side,wherein the front side comprises an opening; and first and second sidesand a back side, wherein the first and second sides and back sidecomprise a plurality of openings.
 2. The animal furniture bed of claim1, wherein the bed further comprises a lip element disposed at a bottomside of the front side.
 3. The animal furniture bed of claim 1, whereinthe first and second sides are secured to the top and front sides, andfurther wherein a storage area is disposed in an interior of the bed. 4.The animal furniture bed of claim 1, wherein the top side comprises alip.
 5. The animal furniture bed of claim 1, further comprising a matmaterial disposed on the top side.
 6. The animal furniture bed of claim1, wherein the front side comprises a convex shape.
 7. The animalfurniture bed of claim 1, wherein the first and second sides and backside comprise wire, mesh, netting, weaving, or combinations thereof. 8.The animal furniture bed of claim 1, wherein the first and second sidesand back side comprise wire or wire-like material.
 9. The animalfurniture bed of claim 1, further comprising an outer covering disposedon an outer surface of the first side, second side, back side, orcombinations thereof.
 10. The animal furniture bed of claim 1, furthercomprising an outer covering disposed on each of the first and secondsides and back sides.